Bag pack

ABSTRACT

A bag pack formed of multiple stacked handle bags having aligned mounting apertures defined through the handles thereof for reception of mounting rods therethrough. The apertures are formed by partially severed flaps which are in turn bonded together to maintain aperture alignment. The flaps are integral with the bags along minor easily severed areas for a freeing of the bags upon a severance of the flaps simultaneous with or subsequent to reception of the mounting rods through the apertures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention here is generally concerned with thermoplastic shoppingbags and the like, and more particularly packs of such bags interrelatedin a manner which enables the simultaneous mounting of multiple bags, asa unit, on a rack with the bags, in turn, being individually opened andloaded while on the rack, and subsequently removed therefrom.

Bags of the general type involved herein are frequently formed fromflattened tube portions selectively severed from a length of tubing ofappropriate material and subsequently heat sealed along the lower andupper edges thereof. An appropriate mouth-defining U-shaped cutout isnormally made through the sealed upper edge, this cutout simultaneouslydefining both the upper mouth of the bag and a pair of laterally spacedhandles. Such bags can be formed both with or without side gussets.

In has become increasingly common to provide such bags in packs forsuspension on racks with the individual bags separately dispensedtherefrom. Pursuant thereto, the pack bags have typically includedapertured tear-off tabs with the rack support element received throughthe apertured tabs and with the entire tab being severed from the bag asthe bag is removed from the rack for loading. Examples of bag packs ofthis type will be noted in the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,750, Dancy,

U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,090, Pilon.

In each of these patents, the forming of the mounting aperturesimultaneously effects a heat sealing of the bags together. This in turnrequires a severing of the bag from the tabs, and hence releasing thebag from the rack, as a precondition to opening the bag for loading.

Typical examples of multiple bags mounted on and dispensed from rackswill be seen in the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,790,591-Rosen,

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,733-Walitalo,

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,734-Walitalo.

In each of the above, the bags include one or more aperture whichreceive a rod-like member therethrough.

Typical examples of multiple bags releasably adhesively bonded to eachother in a pack will be seen in the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,493-Vogt,

U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,302-Farrelly et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bags of the present invention are what are commonly referred to asT-shirt or handle bags, normally formed of a thin, highly flexiblethermoplastic material.

It is a primary intention of the invention to provide such bags inmultiple-bag packs wherein the bags are fixedly positioned relative toeach other for mounting as a unit on a combined holding, loading anddispensing rack. In conjunction therewith, it is proposed that the bagsof the bag pack be so formed as to receive support rods through theupstanding handles of the bags, both within the pack itself and as thebags are individually drawn therefrom and loaded.

In addition to the mounting of the bag pack at the mounting tabs as inPilon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,090, provision is also made for a directengagement and continued support of the individual bags on the rack fora filling of the bag after the individual bags are drawn from the packs.This basically involves defining of rod-receiving apertures through thestacked handles. It is of course essential that the apertures throughthe individual bags maintain exact alignment for introduction onto themounting rods as a unit. This is inherently difficult primarily becauseof the extremely thin highly flexible nature of the material of thebags, particularly in the handle or handle portions thereof which is thedesired area of support for the bags both as the bags are dispensed andduring the filling of the bags.

In providing for bag handle alignment, or more particularly mountingaperture alignment, the present invention proposed an additional directbonding of the bags to each other at the handle apertures. However, ascan be appreciated, such a bonding or securing of the bags, whileessential in maintaining the alignment of the apertures for a mountingof the bag pack, must not interfere with the removal of individual bagsfrom the pack, and the related spreading of the handles for accessthereto as a means for supporting the individual bag, both on theloading portion of the rack and by the utlimate carrier of the bag.

To accommodate the apparently conflicting problems of positive aperturealignment and free handle movement, the present invention proposes theformation of the apertures by the cutting of aperture-forming flaps fromthe handles, which flaps are retained integral with the correspondinghandles by only a minor area. These minor areas are readily severableupon the application of a force thereto generated, as an example, eitherby the rod being introduced past the flaps and through the apertures, orby an outward pulling of one bag relative to another. In order toprovide for the desired releasable securing of the bags with the handleapertures aligned, the flaps themselves are joined, preferably by heatbonding. Thus, until such time as the flaps are severed from the bags,the apertures are in fixed alignment with each other.

Inasmuch as the apertures which are to receive the support rods are toinclude an area of severance about the periphery thereof, it isparticularly desirable that this area of severance not propagate a tearin the material when the aperture is subjected to stress from thesupport rod under bag-loading conditions. Accordingly, as the rod willnaturally engage the upper periphery of the aperture the area ofseverance will be defined at the diammetrically opposed lower portion ofthe aperture periphery, the area of least stress. Further, the manner inwhich the apertures and flaps are formed provides for the area ofseverance inward of the circumference of the freely cut or severed majorperiphery of the apertures. In other words, the ends of each aperturecut line, which follows a circular path, terminate in inwardly curledspaced relation to each other whereby any tendency for the cut line totear at the ends thereof will result in an inward tearing into the flapitself as opposed to into the bag or through the periphery of theaperture. Further, upon a severance of the individual flaps between theclosely spaced ends of the cut line, the resultant material willcomprise a small inwardly extended loose unstressed lip of material.

As a variation to the provision of the apertures directly through thebag handles, should it be desirable to maintain the handle integrity inorder to preserve the maximum strength thereof while at the same timeproviding the desired support of the bags at the handles, the handlesmay be provided with inwardly directed integral tabs which constitute apermanent extension of the bag handles. These tabs in turn will have theaforedescribed flap-defined apertures therethrough.

The invention also contemplates a unique interaction between theindividual bags of the pack as the bags are sequentially drawn from therack-mounted pack, first for loading and subsequently for a removal fromthe rack for transportation. Basically, a readily severable adhesiveengagement between the rear or inner face of each bag and the forwardface of the big inwardly or immediately rearward thereof enables aforward drawing of a bag and a spreading of the wall thereof into theloading position as a previously loaded bag is removed from the rack.The rack itself is so configured so as to allow for a substantiallyautomatic disengagement of the loaded bag from the subsequent bag as thesubsequent bag reaches the loading position in a fully opened handlesupported orientation.

It will be appreciated that the central mounting tabs, in addition toproviding a support for the intermediate section of the pack, alsofacilitate an opening of the mouth of the individual bags as they aresequentially moved into loading or filling position.

Basically, each bag tab includes front and rear panels which are,respectively, extensions of the front and rear bag walls. Thus, as thefront wall of a bag is drawn forward, it will sever from the associatedtab panel while the corresponding rear wall is retained by its tabpanel, resulting in a complete opening of the bag mouth. The rear wallwill, in turn, sever from its tab panel during loading or filling of thebag. Alternatively, removal of the loaded bag will readily sever therear wall of the bag from its tab panel.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailsof construction and manner of use as more fully hereinafter describedand claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a bag pack formed in accord withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a rack-mounted bag pack withselected bags drawn forwardly therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a bag handle with a flap-definedmounting aperture therein;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a bag pack mounted ona rack with the handles engaged with the pair of mounting rods and thetabs engaged with the central hook element;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a variation of the bags and packwherein no central tab is provided;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail, in perspective, taken substantiallyon a plane passing along line 6--6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail similar to FIG. 6 illustrating theseverance of the flaps as the pack mounts on a rod;

FIG. 8 is a plan detail of a rod-mounted pack detailing the rod andaperture relationship;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional detail similar to FIG. 7 illustrating avariation wherein the flaps, rather than being severed upon theintroduction of the mounting rod, will sever upon the selecteddispensing of the individual bags from the pack;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating a bag forwardly drawnfrom the pack and maintained on a support rod in its loading position;and

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective detail of a variation with regard tolocation of the flap-defined mounting apertures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10designates a bag pack formed, in accord with the present invention, ofmultiple individual bags 12.

The bags 12 are preferably of a lightweight, highly flexible and strongthermoplastic material, and are conventionally fabricated from acontinuous plastic tube gusseted, flattened and heat sealed at opposedupper and lower ends. The mouth 14 of the bag 12 is formed by a cutoutinwardly and centrally through the upper portion of the bag. This cutoutdefines a central mounting tab 15 and a pair of laterally spacedupwardly extending handles 16 formed of upwardly extending portions ofthe front and rear panels 18 and 20 of the bag 12 respectively as wellas similarly upwardly extending portions of the side gussets 22. Acutline or slit 23, formed between the tab 15 and bag 12 provides, in aknown manner, reduced force severable joinder areas for a readyseverance of the bag from the tab. The multiple individual bags are inturn maintained in the pack 10 by a direct heat bonding of the tabstogether. Such bag construction, as thus far described, is generallyknown in the art as will be appreciated from Pilon, U.S. Pat. No.4,529,090.

It is a principal purpose of the invention to provide for the mountingof a pack 10 of the bags 12 on a support rack 24 for both the selectivedispensing of the individual bags 12 and the support and suspension ofthe individual bags by the handles and with the open mouth upwardlydirected for a loading of the bag. The rack 24 will basically consist ofa flat base or support panel 26 and a pair of laterally spacedsupporting arms 28 positioned vertically above the base panel 26 adistance sufficient to accommodate a fully expanded bag with the handles16 engaged with support arms 28 and the bottom of the bag on the panel26. A transverse member 29, extending between the support arms 28, willsupport a tab receiving hook element 30 for engagement through the tabapertures 31 as illustrated. The support arms 28 and transverse member29 may be rigid with a vertical member which in turn has the lower endthereof appropriately rigidly affixed to the panel 26 toward the rearthereof. The bag pack 10 will normally be accommodated generallyrearward on the rack 24 toward the upright, or vertical member, allowingfor the forward extent of the support panel 26 and overlying supportrods 28 to accommodate an opened bag for loading purposes. The rack 24will also normally include upturned forward ends 32 on the laterallyspaced horizontal support rods 28, for purposes which will be describedsubsequently.

As will be appreciated for FIGS. 2 and 4, it is specifically intendedthat the bag pack 10 be suspended from the support rods 28 by handles 16in a manner whereby each individual bag 12, as it is moved forward fromthe pack 10, is retained in an upright open position, also by the handleengaged support rods 28, for a loading thereof prior to removal from therack 24 and normally prior to a complete disengagement of the bag fromthe remainder of the pack. Accordingly, specific provision is made, inthe present invention, for the engagement of the handles 16 with thesupport rods 28.

The engagement of the bag handles 16 is achieved by the provision of rodreceiving aperture 34, one through each bag handle 16, at a centralpoint slightly below mid-height thereof. However, in order for the bagsto be loaded on the support arms 28 as a pack, it is essential that theformed mounting holes or apertures 34 be maintained in alignment. Inorder to achieve this alignment, each of the apertures is defined by aflap 36 severed from the corresponding handle 16 along a substantiallycircular cut line 38 which terminates in a pair of inwardly and upwardlycurled ends 40 in close laterally spaced relation to each other at thebottom of the aperture 34, that is that portion of the aperture 34directed to the bottom of the bag 12. These laterally spaced ends 40define an integral joinder area 42 between the flap 36 and the baghandle 16 with this joinder are 42 being in the nature of a readilyseverable portion capable of being easily torn upon the introduction ofa force thereto.

It is particularly significant that the ends 40 of the cut 38 beinwardly directed in that any tendency for these ends to propagate atearing beyond the length thereof will result in an inward tearing intothe flap itself, rather than a disruption of the bag, or moreparticularly the bag handle as might affect its carrying capability.Further, inasmuch as the flap 36 is to ultimately be severed between theends 40, it is particularly desirable that this area of severance beslightly inward of the periphery of the aperture as defined by the majorcircular portion of the cut 38, again to effectively prevent anytendency for the tear area to propagate a tearing of the handle beyondthe small severance area or portion. In conjunction therewith, it willalso be appreciated that the area of severance, located at the bottom ofthe rod receiving aperture 34, is at the point of least stress upon asuspension of the bag from the rods 28 in that the rods 28 will engagethe upper periphery of the apertures 34, centrally within the area ofthe smooth circular cut 38.

Incidentally, as should be readily apparent, reference to an aperture orhole 34 through a corresponding handle 16, in conjunction with theaperature defining flap 36, actually entails a forming of flaps andapertures through all layers of the corresponding handle 16, includingthe handle extensions of the front and rear bag panels and theextensions of the interposed side gusset 22.

As a practical expedient, the partially severed flaps 36, and apertures34 defined thereby, will normally be cut through the stacked handlesafter an assembly of multiple bags in a pack. Either prior to orsimultaneously with the forming of the cut line 38 through the stackedbag handles, the flaps 36, or those areas which are to define the flaps36, are bonded together throughout the full stack, including themultiple layers thereof. This may be effected by the use of a heated pinor rod extended centrally through the flaps 36 to directly heat seal theflaps together as indicated by the flap traversing central bore 44.

The heat bonding of the flap 36 together, in both stacks of handles 16,bonds the bags of the bag pack together in a manner whereby the mountingapertures 34 are fixed in alignment for a simplified and expedientmounting of the handles on the support rods 28 of the rack 24. One needmerely grasp the two handle stacks of each bag pack and slide thehandles over the support rods 28 with the rods 28 moving easily throughthe aligned apertures 34. As the pack is moved to the rear of the rack,the bonded together tabs 15 are in turn engaged with the hook element30.

Noting FIG. 6, it is contemplated that as the bags move onto the supportrods 28, the rods will sever the aligning flaps 36 which, in the mountedbags, are no longer necessary. The actual severing of the flaps willtake place at the severance point 42 of the individual flaps which, aspreviously described, is so located as to be in the area of least stressto both preclude tear propagation and maintain structural integrity. Assuggested in FIG. 8, should the introduction of the rods 28 not effect acomplete severing of the flaps 36, the flap 36 will be folded downwardwith the actual severing thereof, and hence the releasing of theindividual bags, being effected during the movement of the individualbags, forwardly to the loading position. In other words, a slightforward pulling on the leading bag, and particularly the forwardportions of the handles thereof, will readily sever the flaps at theseverance areas 42 if such a severance has not in fact occurred upon theinitial introduction of the rods 28.

In order to facilitate an automatic following and opening of the bagsduring the loading operation, the rear panel 20 of each bag 12,centrally thereof and in slightly spaced relation below the bag mouth14, is provided with a minor area of readily disengageable adhesive 46which adhesively bonds to the forward panel 18 of a following orunderlying bag 12. Noting FIG. 2 in particular, after the loading of afirst bag 12, the handles 16 thereof are grasped and the bag moved offof the upturned ends 32 of the support arms 28. This results in asimultaneous forward drawing, through the adhesively bonded area 46, ofthe front wall of a following bag. The front wall will sever from itstab panel and forward progress of the following bag will be resisted bythe leading portion of the handles engaging the upturned ends 32 on thesupport arms 28. This reaction is greater than the bonding force of theadhesive 46 whereby the adhesive bonding between the loading bag and thefollowing bag is severed, leaving the following bag in an open upwardlydirected position for loading. As will be appreciated, the adhesivebonding need only be sufficient to sever the following front wall fromits tab panel and move the extremely lightweight flexible bag. Inasmuchas there is no adhesive between the front and rear walls or panels ofthe single bags, the following bag will open as the rear wall thereof isretained by the adhesive bonding to the front wall of the bagtherebehind.

Noting FIG. 10, as a variation, the flap-formed handle mountingapertures can be defined through tabs 48 integrally formed on the innervertical edges of the handles 16, the flaps and apertures formed in thetabs 48 duplicating the flaps and apertures 36 and 34 previouslydescribed. The particular advantage in such an arrangement is that theactual integrity of the handle 16 need not be violated. The tabs 48, asan integral portion of the corresponding handles 16, remain therewithafter a severance of the flaps.

The preferred flap and aperture configuration has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, however, other configurations are possible withinthe scope of the invention. In each instance, the aperture-defining cutlines are to so configured whereby any tendency for the bag to tearbeyond the cut lines will be inwardly directed toward the removable flapand will not affect the integrity of the handle. Similarly, theseverance point or area should also not affect bag integrity, and thusshould be located in the area of minimum stress and within what might beconsidered the periphery of the flap itself. The flaps, regardless oftheir particular configuration, will be bonded together to define thetemporary means for aligning the apertures and stabilizing the stackedbag handles for simultaneous mounting on the support rods 28 of anappropriate rack 24. Noting FIG. 5, while the bags have been presentedand detailed above as including central mounting tabs, a variationwherein the bags are formed without these tabs is also contemplated. Insuch a case, the bags 12 will be mounted, as a pack 10, only on thesupport arms 28 received through the bag handle apertures 34. The mannerof moving the individual bags to a loading position will remainsubstantially the same as above described, with the leading bag openingthe immediately following bag by means of the adhesively bonded area 46.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the uniqueaperture-defining flaps, which function as a means to align andinterengage the handles of the individual bags of a bag pack, providefor a mounting of the pack as a unit with the individual bags,simultaneously with the mounting thereof, being sufficiently disengagedfrom the remainder of the bags in the pack to enable a sequentialforward drawing of the bags, while maintaining the full support thereof,to an open loading position. There is no necessity for removal of theindividual bags from the support arms or rack for a loading thereof.Further, the bags, notwithstanding the thin and highly flexible natureof the material thereof, are readily handable as a pack:

We claim:
 1. A bag pack mountable on laterally spaced support rods of asupport rack and comprising multiple stacked handle bags, each handlebag comprising front and rear bag walls defining an open top, and a pairof laterally spaced handles projecting upwardly from the open top ofeach bag, each handle including overlying front and rear handle panelsprojecting upwardly respectively from the front and rear bag walls; saidmultiple stacked bags being positioned with the corresponding handles ofthe pair of handles of each bag in stacked aligned overlying relationforming a pair of handle stacks associated with said stacked bags,aligned mounting apertures through the handles of each handle stack forsimultaneous reception of each handle stack on a corresponding supportrod receivable through the aligned apertures, bag retaining means onsaid bags fixing said handles together in each said handle stack formaintaining the apertures in alignment, said bag retaining meanscomprising a flap within each aperture integral with the correspondingbag at a minor area on the periphery of the aperture, said minor areacomprising a severance area and defining said severable means, the flapsof the apertures in each handle stack being fixedly secured to theadjacent flaps for retention of the flaps in overlying aligned relationand said apertures in alignment, said severable means defining aconnection between the retaining means and the bags for severance fromthe bags in response to introduction of the support rods through thealigned apertures and movement of the bags along the rods in supportingrelation to the rods.
 2. The bag pack of claim 1 wherein the peripheryof each aperture includes an upper bearing area which directly receivesand engages against a support rod upon the suspension of a bagtherefrom, said severance area being generally directly opposed to saidbearing area.
 3. The bag pack of claim 2 wherein said severance area ispositioned inward of the major periphery of the corresponding aperture.4. The bag pack of claim 3 wherein each flap, and hence the periphery ofthe corresponding aperture, is defined by a circular cut line having theopposite ends generally inwardly directed toward the center of thedefined circle and in closely spaced lateral relation to each other withthe severance area defined therebetween.
 5. The bag pack of claim 4including minor areas of releasable adhesive bonding between theoverlying rear wall of each bag in the stack and the front wall of thebag immediately therebehind.
 6. The bag back of claim 5 includingdetachable tab means projecting upwardly from the defined open top ofeach bag between the laterally spaced handles, said tab means includinga mounting aperture defined therethrough for central support of the packfrom a rack in conjunction with the handle support by rack support rods,and a readily severable area integrally joining each tab means of theassociated bag.
 7. The bag back of claim 1 including detachable tabmeans projecting upwardly from the defined open top of each bag betweenthe laterally spaced handles, said tab means including a mountingaperture defined therethrough for central support of the pack from arack in conjunction with the handle support by rack support rods, and areadily severable area integrally joining each tab means to theassociated bag.
 8. A bag pack mountable on laterally spaced support rodsand comprising multiple stacked handle bags, each handle bag comprisingfront and rear bag walls defining an open top, and a pair of laterallyspaced handles projecting upward from the open top of each bag, eachhandle including overlying front and rear handle panels projectingupwardly from the front and rear bag walls respectively, said multiplestacked bags being positioned with the corresponding handles of the pairof handles of each bag in stacked aligned overlying relation forming apair of handle stacks associated with said stacked bags, alignedmounting apertures through the handles of each handle stack forsimultaneous reception of each handle stack on a corresponding supportrod receivable through the aligned apertures, each mounting aperturebeing formed by a cut line through the corresponding handle, said cutline having an intermediate portion and opposed end portions, said endportions being generally arcuately turned inward toward each other andsaid intermediate portion, said end portions terminating in spacedrelation to each other to define an unsevered portion therebetween, saidcut line defining a flap in the aperture formed by said cut line, saidflap being selectively displaced away from said aperture uponintroduction of a support rod therethrough, and means for fixedlysecuring the flaps of the aligned apertures of each handle stacktogether for a retention of said apertures in alignment prior toengagement of a support rod therethrough.
 9. The bag pack of claim 8wherein said cut line is substantially circular.
 10. The bag pack ofclaim 8 wherein adjoining flaps in each handle stack are heat bondedtogether.
 11. The bag back of claim 10 including a releasable adhesivejoinder between the facing walls of adjacent bags of said multiplestacked bags.
 12. The bag pack of 8 including detachable tab meansprojecting upwardly from the defined open top of each bag between thelaterally spaced handles, said tab means including a mounting aperturedefined therethrough, and a readily severable area integrally joiningeach tab means to the associated bag.
 13. The bag pack of claim 8including an integral laterally directed tab formed on each bag handleplanar therewith and projecting inwardly toward the second of the pairof handles, each tab having one of said flap-defined aperturestherethrough.
 14. A bag dispensing system comprising a bag pack ofmultiple stacked handle bags, and a rack for mounting said bag pack andloading and individually removing bags from said bag pack; said rackcomprising a pair of laterally spaced elongate support rods havingleading ends; said bag pack comprising multiple stacked handle bags,each handle bag comprising a pair of laterally spaced upwardlyprojecting handles, said multiple stacked bags being positioned with thecorresponding handles of the pair of handles of each bag in stackedaligned overlying relation forming a pair of handle stacks alignedmounting apertures through the handles of each handle stack forsimultaneous reception of each handle stack over a corresponding one ofsaid support rods receivable through the aligned apertures, each saidaperture being defined by a flap partially severed from the associatedbag handle, and means bonding each of said flaps to the adjoining flapsof the aligned apertures of each handle stack, said flaps being removedfrom said apertures upon introduction of a support rod through thealigned apertures of each handle stack.
 15. The system of claim 14wherein each handle bag comprises front and rear bag walls defining anopen top, said handles projecting upwardly from said open top andincluding overlying front and rear handle panels defining extensions ofsaid front and rear bag walls respectively, the front and rear handlepanels of each handle being joined at the upper ends thereof remote fromsaid bag mouth, the aperture through each bag handle being definedthrough the corresponding front and rear handle panels.
 16. The systemof claim 15 wherein a releasable bonding means in provided between eachbag and the adjoining bags of said multiple stacked bags, saidreleasable bonding means being provided between the walls of said bagsbelow the mouth thereof.
 17. The system of claim 15 wherein said rackincludes hook means between said support rods and inward of said leadingends, and detachable tab means projecting upwardly from the defined opentop of each bag between the laterally spaced handles, said tab meansincluding a mounting aperture defined therethrough for engagement of therack hook means therethrough in conjunction with the handle engagementwith the rack support rods, and a readily severable area integrallyjoining each tab means to the associated bag.
 18. A bag pack mountableon support rod means and comprising multiple stacked bags, each bag ofthe stacked bags comprising front and rear bag walls defining an opentop, aligned mounting apertures through the stacked bags forsimultaneous reception of the stacked bags on support rod meansreceivable through the aligned apertures, each mounting aperture beingformed by a cut line through the corresponding bag, said cut line havingan intermediate portion and opposed end portions, said end portionsbeing generally inwardly turned toward each other and said intermediateportion, said end portions terminating in spaced relation to each otherto define an unsevered portion therebetween, said cut line defining aflap in the aperture formed by said cut line, said flap beingselectively displaced away from said aperture upon introduction ofsupport rod means therethrough, and means for fixedly securing the flapsof the aligned apertures of the stacked bags together for a retention ofsaid apertures in alignment prior to engagement of support rod meanstherethrough.
 19. The bag pack of claim 18 wherein adjoining flaps areheat bonded together.
 20. The bag pack of 18 including detachable tabmeans projecting upwardly from the defined open top of each bag betweenthe laterally spaced handles, said tab means including a mountingaperture defined therethrough, and a readily severable area integrallyjoining each tab means to the associated bag. .Iadd.
 21. A system formounting a pack of thermoplastic grocery bags of the T-shirt type on arack, for supporting consecutive bags from said pack on said rack in anopen loading position and for facilitating easy removal of theconsecutive loaded bags from said rack; said system comprising;a bagpack comprising a plurality of stacked T-shirt type bags securedtogether, each of said bags comprising front and rear wall portionsintegrally connected at sides thereof and secured together at the bottomthereof and defining an open top mouth portion, laterally spaced handlesintegral with said wall portions and extending upwardly from opposedsides of said mouth portion, a support rod receiving aperture formedthrough an intermediate portion of each of said handles, a detachablemounting tab extending upwardly from each of said front and rear wallportions at a central area of said mouth portion, a mounting aperture ineach of said detachable mounting tabs, and means bonding said tabstogether for maintaining said bags together in said pack; and a rackcomprising a generally horizontal base, generally vertical frame membersmounted on and extending from one side of said base, two laterallyspaced generally horizontal support rod means having free outer ends andcarried by and extending outwardly from the upper portion of saidvertical frame members (1) for slidably receiving said apertures in saidbag handles of said pack, (2) for supporting consecutive ones of saidbags in an open loading position as said bags are consecutively removedfrom said pack and slid along said support rods and (3) for facilitatingremoval of loaded bags by sliding said handles off said support rods atsaid free outer ends, and retaining means carried by the upper portionof said vertical frame members between said support rod means andextending outwardly therefrom a distance less than the extension of saidsupport rod means (1) for receiving said apertures in said detachablemounting tabs, (2) for cooperating with said support rod means to mountsaid bag pack on said rack and (3) for allowing consecutive detachmentof said front and rear wall portions of said bags from said mountingtabs as said bags are slid outwardly along said support rod means intothe open loading position by retaining said mounting tabs on saidretaining means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 22. A system, as set forth in claim21, in which each of said bags in said pack further includes a tabportion integrally connected to each of said handles at an intermediateportion thereof and extending generally inwardly from the inner edges ofsaid handles, and in which said support rod receiving aperture of eachof said handles of each of said bags is formed in said respective tabportion to preserve maximum strength in said handles. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A system, as set forth in claim 21 or 22, in which said bagpack further includes disengagable adhesive means connecting each saidrear wall portion to each said front wall below said mouth portion ofeach consecutive bag in said bag pack to facilitate consecutive openingof each of said bags as a loaded bag is removed from said rack..Iaddend.